Byfuglien gives Quenneville a winning answer

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville hadn't seen Dustin Byfuglien play defense until this week, and so far he likes it.

He likes it very much.

"It's a nice little diamond in the rough we've found, for me anyway," Quenneville said following Thursday's 3-0 win at Los Angeles where Byfuglien stood out for the second straight night.

It's only been two games and perhaps he would get somewhat exposed later on, but so far Byfuglien has helped solve a huge problem on defense with Brent Seabrook, Brian Campbell and Kim Johnsson sidelined by injuries.

Seabrook was back on the ice at practice Friday after taking that vicious hit from Anaheim's James Wisniewski on Wednesday, but he remains questionable for tonight's game against the Coyotes.

Campbell won't be back until at least the second round of the playoffs because of a broken collarbone and fractured rib while the Hawks call Johnsson day-to-day with an upper body injury.

Quenneville said Byfuglien would remain on defense for the time being.

Byfuglien has been a forward since before Quenneville took over behind the Hawks' bench, but he came up through the organization as a defenseman. It was former coach Denis Savard who moved him to wing.

"We joke that he hasn't lost a step," Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said.

Byfuglien has had to change his mindset completely from attacking forward to defending defenseman. That and remember all the special skills a defenseman must use such as skating backwards, turning properly and learning the tendencies of opposition forwards.

"Just getting the timing and getting to know the players and what they like to do when they come down 1-on-1," Byfuglien said. "You usually pay attention to that when you're a defenseman, what guys do when they come down on you. I don't pay attention to that anymore.

"It's mostly the timing going backwards and how guys can change their speeds."

Byfuglien played 21 minutes against the Kings - only Duncan Keith got more ice time - and was plus-1 with an assist, 6 shots on goal, 5 hits and a blocked shot.

Quenneville raved about Byfuglien's play after the Hawks snapped their three-game losing streak.

"He was great," Quenneville said. "You get an appreciation for what he does up front, but this is new to me to watch him in back-to-back games getting exposure to playing all parts of the defensive zone.

"He was big, strong, effective, a threat offensively and patient defensively. I'm very happy with his game."

All of the defensemen rose to the occasion against the Kings, responding to the challenge of additional ice time without Seabrook, Campbell and Johnsson.

Brent Sopel was moved to the top pairing with Keith and was plus-1 in 20 minutes.

Niklas Hjalmarsson was strong as Byfuglien's partner while Jordan Hendry and Nick Boynton each played 14 minutes or more.

Hendry helped set up Troy Brouwer's goal that opened the scoring with a steal in the neutral zone.

"Our defense across the board was rock solid," Quenneville said. "Everybody played well, everybody worked well, everybody was a new pair. You try some things and it worked very well as far as everybody complementing each other."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Blackhawks game day</p>

<p class="News">Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena, 8 p.m. Saturday</p>

<p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Comcast SportsNet</p>

<p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WGN 720-AM</p>

<p class="News"><b>What to watch:</b> The Coyotes have won seven straight and now trail the Hawks by only 3 points in the battle for first place in the Western Conference. Phoenix won 4-3 at Florida on Thursday for its franchise record 44th victory. It's the first of back-to-back meetings with the Coyotes coming to the United Center on Tuesday.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Season series:</b> Hawks trail 0-1-1 and are 0-for-10 on the power play.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Phoenix Coyotes at the United Center, Tuesday 7:30 p.m.</p

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